Lane sharpened his thoughts even further. After the fifth movement, he thought to himself:
'The aura is getting denser and denser… Then what if I intensify my movements and my thoughts as well? Let's try.'
Before moving on to the sixth movement of the Dragon Sword technique, he stopped. He did not rush. He tried to gather all his power into a single point. Since the Dragon Sword was perfectly compatible with dragon mana, this kind of focus was not unfamiliar to him. He wasn't struggling… but he wasn't underestimating it either.
Lane made his entire body heavier.
The weight was not only physical; the mana pressure had also increased. The ground could not withstand that pressure. The cracks first spread like thin lines, then turned into a circular fracture one meter in diameter.
Lane withdrew into his own mind.
'Right now my mind is empty… I have a sword in my hand. This sword is very heavy. I must focus all my power into a single point. The technique is forming in my mind…'
The world before his eyes disappeared.
Everything turned pitch black.
In that darkness, there was only one thing: a glowing sword.
The light was at first a faint tremor. Then it gradually intensified. Stronger. Heavier. More dominant.
As the sword shone brighter, even the empty space around it seemed to bend.
Lane opened his eyes.
He executed the technique.
In an instant, the surroundings turned crimson. Blood began to gush out from the cracked ground. It was as if the world beneath the earth had been torn open and the life inside it was being forced out.
And then—
"BAMMMM!"
When he executed the sixth movement following the fifth technique, intensifying it to its limit, the scene that emerged was unlike anything before.
Under the weight of the strike, an area thirty meters in diameter trembled violently. The ground shattered, cracks spreading like a spider web. In the direction where the sword descended, a fissure extending more than fifty meters split the earth in two.
At that moment, Lane raised his aura to three stars.
The pressure was not only physical; a spiritual crushing sensation spread through the surroundings.
The strike was so powerful that Gorn covered his ears in fear and collapsed to the ground. His face had turned pale, his knees giving out beneath him. The echo of the sword strike reached all the way to the cave; the stone walls trembled, dust falling from the ceiling.
At that moment, not only power but will itself had screamed.
After testing the sixth technique, Lane was completely exhausted. His fingers loosened. The sword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He himself dropped to his knees.
His chest rose and fell violently.
He muttered out loud:
"Uh… what the hell was that… that move drained all my energy."
He truly felt hollow inside. The aura had receded, his mana had hit rock bottom. It was as if he was not the same person who had just created that massive fissure.
For two or three minutes, he only breathed. Silently. Deeply. With difficulty.
Then he slowly stood up. As he lifted his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, he sensed movement behind him.
Gorn had stood up with trembling steps and was approaching Lane.
When Lane saw him, he instinctively flinched.
"Gorn! What are you doing here? You scared the hell out of me… Is that how you approach someone silently?"
But then he noticed something.
Gorn was trembling.
He frowned.
"Gorn… are you okay? Why are you shaking?"
Gorn raised his cane into the air, his eyes shifting between anger and fear.
"You bastard! I almost got that sword strike smashed into my head! I barely escaped death!"
He swung his cane toward Lane.
Lane stepped back by reflex, barely avoiding the tip of the cane, and burst into laughter.
"Hey, old Gorn, what were you even doing there?"
Saying that, he stepped backward, then suddenly turned and started running.
Gorn tried to chase him for a few steps, but when he ran out of breath, he stopped.
He muttered to himself:
"So he can be a child sometimes too…"
An involuntary smile appeared on his face. Then he began walking heavily after Lane.
Lane headed toward the cave. When he entered, he saw that almost the entire village had gathered. The air was tense. Whispers, anxious glances, people packing their belongings…
Lane did not go to his room.
He headed straight to the council room.
When he entered, he saw Sara and Edwick standing over the table, discussing the map. Both looked serious.
Lane approached and looked at the map.
"What kind of plan did you make? Is there any progress?"
Edwick raised his head, a faint mocking expression on his face.
"Plans aside… why are you blowing up the forest? Because of your move, the cave shook."
Lane scratched his head.
"Sorry… I didn't know the technique would be that destructive."
Sara clapped her hands together, the sharp sound echoing in the room.
"Everyone, focus here."
A few more people in the room stepped closer.
Sara continued in a firm tone:
"We're leaving tonight."
Lane's eyes widened.
"What? That fast? We haven't fully settled the plan yet."
Sara spoke without taking her eyes off him.
"We'll settle it on the way. It won't take long for the Church to enter this village. We need to leave as soon as possible."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
Lane placed his hand on his chin. He was rapidly weighing possibilities in his mind.
"You're right… we need to start moving. Anyway, tell me the plan. What did you think of?"
Edwick and Sara exchanged a brief glance.
Then they slowly began explaining the overall objective of the plan and its details.
The map on the table was no longer just a drawing.
It was the map of escape, risk, and perhaps a new beginning.
After a full hour of discussion, Lane spoke the final sentence:
"This plan is good and all… but it's a failed plan. If you're asking why, what you've described would work against humans. But we're going into the forest to slaughter harpies and orcs. That's why this plan needs several changes."
The atmosphere in the room instantly became serious.
Without wasting any time, Lane began explaining the new plan. The details were so precise, so sharp, that Edwick eventually couldn't hold himself back.
"Lane… what were you doing before? I served five years in the army. I've seen many generals and colonels. I've never seen anyone plan like you… What are you?"
Lane shrugged.
"I've been reading strategy books since I was a child. At least let them be useful for something."
Sara laughed lightly upon hearing that answer. After the brief teasing atmosphere faded, Lane continued explaining the plan in full detail.
Finally, he concluded:
"For now, this is the plan. But we still need to improve it, friends. We'll look at it again while we're on the road."
Then he stood up from his chair.
"I'm going to my room. I need to rest now."
He left the council room.
His room was dark and quiet. He took off his clothes and took a short shower. The cool water eased the exhaustion in his body at least a little.
He lay down on the bed.
As he placed his head on the pillow, he thought:
"I'll need to wake up at night… it's better if I sleep early. Tomorrow the difficult journey begins."
He closed his eyes.
Around two in the morning, his door was knocked on harshly.
Lane opened his eyes.
The weight of sleep was still on him, but his mind cleared instantly.
It was time.
He quietly got up. He changed his clothes. His belongings were already prepared. Within fifteen minutes, he was completely ready.
When he stepped outside, he saw that Morris and his student had also arrived.
Everyone was ready to set out.
Before leaving the cave, Lane told everyone to stay silent and to move without shouting.
And thus…
The first day of the great migration began.